What to Expect at an FTC Competition

Participating in a FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) competition is an exhilarating experience that showcases months of dedication, innovation, and teamwork. To ensure your team is well-prepared and confident, it's essential to understand the competition's structure, prepare thoroughly, and be aware of the various awards and recognition opportunities.

Competition Structure

FTC competitions typically span two days, each with specific activities:

Day 1: Check-In and Robot Inspection

• Check-In: Upon arrival, teams register and receive event materials, including schedules and pit assignments.
  
  

• Pit Setup: Teams set up their designated pit areas, organizing tools, materials, and displays.
  
  

• Robot Inspection: Officials conduct inspections to ensure robots comply with size, weight, and safety regulations. It's crucial to address any issues promptly to avoid delays.
  
  

Day 2: Judging, Matches, and Awards

• Morning:
  
  

  • Judging Sessions: Teams present their engineering portfolios and discuss their design processes, strategies, and outreach efforts with judges.
    
    

  • Driver's Meeting: Drivers and coaches attend a briefing to review match procedures and address any last-minute questions.
    
    

• Afternoon:
  
  

  • Qualification Matches: Teams participate in a series of matches, each time partnering with different teams to form alliances. Performance in these matches contributes to overall rankings.

• Late Afternoon:
  
  

  • Alliance Selection: Based on rankings, top teams select alliance partners for the elimination rounds. The selection process typically follows this format:
    
    

    1. The highest-ranked team becomes the first alliance captain and selects a partner from the remaining teams.
       
       

    2. The next highest-ranked unselected team becomes the second alliance captain and selects their partner.
       
       

    3. This process continues until all alliances are formed.
       
       

• Evening:
  
  

  • Elimination Rounds: Alliances compete in a bracketed format, culminating in finals to determine the event champions.
    
    

  • Awards Ceremony: Teams are recognized for various achievements, both on and off the field.
    
    

Preparing for the Competition

Essential Items Checklist

Bringing the right equipment and materials is vital for a smooth competition experience. While a detailed example checklist can be found here, key items include:

• Robot and Spare Parts: Ensure your robot is competition-ready, and pack spare components for quick repairs.
  
  

• Tools: Bring necessary tools for maintenance and adjustments.
  
  

• Team Documentation: Have copies of your engineering portfolio, judging materials, and any required forms.
  
  

• Safety Gear: Equip team members with safety glasses and other protective equipment as mandated by competition rules.
  
  

• Team Identification: Wear team uniforms or shirts for easy identification and to promote team spirit.
  
  

Tips and Tricks

• Pre-Competition Preparation:
  
  

  • Robot Testing: Conduct thorough testing to ensure reliability and performance.
    
    

  • Mock Judging: Practice your presentations to refine communication skills and anticipate potential questions.
    
    

• During the Competition:
  
  

  • Time Management: Adhere to the event schedule to avoid missing crucial activities.
    
    

  • Scouting: Observe other teams to gather insights that can inform your strategy and alliance selections.
    
    

  • Networking: Engage with other teams to share experiences, tips, and foster a collaborative environment.
    
    

Alliance Selection and Playoff Rounds

Understanding the alliance selection and playoff structure is crucial for strategic planning:

• Alliance Selection:
  
  

  • After qualification matches, teams are ranked based on their performance. The top teams earn the right to form alliances for the elimination rounds.
    
    

  • Typically, there are 6 alliances, but the number of alliances and the selection process may vary by event

• The general format involves the highest-ranked teams selecting partners in descending order.
  
  

• Playoff Rounds:
  
  

  • Double Elimination Bracket: Alliances compete in a bracketed format as  specified in the competition manual
    
    

  • Finals: The last two alliances face off to determine the event champion.
    
    

Awards and Recognition

FTC competitions recognize teams for various accomplishments through several awards:

• Inspire Award: The most prestigious award, given to the team that embodies the spirit of FIRST, excelling in all aspects of the competition.
  
  

• Think Award: Recognizes the team with an outstanding engineering portfolio that effectively documents their design process.
  
  

• Connect Award: Awarded to the team that actively seeks and utilizes connections with the engineering community.
  
  

• Innovate Award: Celebrates a team with an innovative and creative robot design solution.
  
  

• Design Award: Acknowledges a team that demonstrates industrial design principles, aesthetics, and functionality in their robot.
  
  

• Motivate Award: Honors a team that exemplifies the essence of teamwork and enthusiasm, sparking others to embrace the culture of FIRST.
  
  

• Control Award: Recognizes a team that uses sensors and software to enhance the robot's functionality on the field.
  
  

• Judges' Award: Given at the discretion of the judges to a team that stands out in a unique way that doesn't fit other award categories.
  
  

Understanding these awards and their criteria can help your team focus efforts and set goals for the competition.

By familiarizing your team with the competition structure, preparing diligently, and understanding the recognition opportunities, you can navigate the FTC competition with confidence and poise, making the experience both rewarding and educational.